SAPS members collect illegal abalone in Cradock. Image: @SA Police Service / Twitter
Busted: R346 000 worth of abalone caught by police in Cradock
Here’s another big abalone bust in Mzansi. Police arrested a 52-year-old male who carried 2510 units in his Hilux construction bakkie.
SAPS members collect illegal abalone in Cradock. Image: @SA Police Service / Twitter
Police have nabbed another abalone suspect. This latest arrest happened in the Eastern Cape’s Cradock on Tuesday. Gqeberha‘s Flying Squad truly earned their money by speeding through the late night.
POLICE ARREST ABALONE SUSPECT IN CRADOCK
So what’s happened on this occasion? According to the report from the South African Police Service (SAPS), the suspect was met after the cops were told to look out for the Toyota vehicle.
“The Gqeberha flying squad made the two-hour and 40 minutes trip to Cradock in the wee hours of Tuesday.
“Today members from Gqeberha Flying Squad apprehended and arrested a 52-year-old male in possession of 2510 units of abalone,” said SAPS Captain Lariane Jonker.
“It is alleged that during the early hours of this morning, members acted on information received about a white Toyota Hilux construction bakkie transporting abalone on route to Cradock.”
SEARCH REVEALED 2510 UNITS WORTH R346 000
Further details revealed that the suspect was caught cold, thanks to the intelligence of the Gqeberha Flying Squad.
While the suspect was quietly driving in the late night, his worst nightmare appeared as police went straight for the bakkie and abalone.
“Gqeberha Flying Squad members mobilised and the vehicle was spotted, stopped and searched about 40 kilometers before Cradock. Twenty-six bags containing 2510 units of abalone was confiscated. The estimated street value is R346 000-00,” Jonker added.
“The abalone was handed over to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Gqeberha and the vehicle was impounded for further investigation.”
According to The South African National Biodiversity (SANB), abalone, better know as perlemoen, is endemic to the shores of South Africa. The species is a major player in our economy and has a sky-high market value. “It is therefore one of the most sought-after invertebrates in the country,” says SANB.
“The suspect will appear before the Cradock magistrates court on Wednesday, 19 January 2022 on charges relating to possession of abalone,” the SAPS captain concluded.
